boatfreak

I've been running little over 700 through a set for 7 yrs. These drives have a lot of imco parts but they're still XR drives. They just get a lot of oil changes and physicals. I know I shouldn't say this going into spring but I haven't broken one yet.

Tom A.

Tick, tick, boom!

I ran 700 through mine, popped 2 and hurt one. Finally put on a pair of SCX and love them. The drive guardians are interesting and look like a good option, don't know much about them.

By the way the drives blew at 60mph and idle respectively. They can only take so much torque load and weaken then break when you least expect it.

cig92

it will break sooner than later, that is a promise. you can be the best on the sticks, it won't matter. it's the torque on the drive that will kill it. mid range cruising will be harder on a drive than wot because of the load on the drive. i would be pulling the drives apart after 25 hrs looking for pitting, you can maintain them but it will cost you. no way around it.

sl

iTrader: (2)

Had xr's behind 800's. After 40 hrs one drive let loose other drive wasn't far behind. Changed over to scx/sc's, four trouble free seasons.

MILD THUNDER

iTrader: (3)

IMO, the number 1 killer of drives, isn't the engine. Its coming out of the water. I'm not talking about jumping a cruiser wake every once and a while for a photo opportunity. Im talking about the guys who boat in rough water, or even "choppy" water if you will, where for 30 miles, his props have broke the surface 287 times, and the tachs, nor the human ear barely picked up. This is why on oso, we have guys coming on saying how their bravo's have lasted many many hours behind big power, and other guys come on oso, and can't get a bravo to live behind a 525 boat. Well, the guy who boats on smaller inland lakes, may not be breaking the props free every single weekend in rougher waters. Right off the bat, guys start saying 'he cant drive' or 'hes not good on the sticks'. It has nothing to do with that. The simple hammering effect on the drive components in rough water, destroys them.

800HP and an XR is a bad idea any which way you look at it. But, I would probably rather take my chances running 800HP thru an XR, on a Cat that never leaves a small inland lake, than 600HP on a vee that see's rough waters every weekend.

Unlimited jd

iTrader: (5)

No matter how long the drive lasts the tiny gimbal ring would scare me just as much.

MILD THUNDER

iTrader: (3)

Yes sir!! And I've seen them snap on more than 1 occasion out on lake michigan. Not cool when that chit breaks and you sink the boat.

omerta one

Running 800+ thru mine (naturally aspirated) with zero issues - 6 blade Herings with drive showers - no blowout while planing (actually planes easier than my 39 NXT boat did).

buck35

My buddy with about 900 and babying on our river with less than a foot of chop has so far twisted off a propshaft, a vertical shaft, and one upper. So, keep spare parts or drives on hand.

JaayTeee

Let's not forget the 2 10-32 screws that hold in the hinge pins on the earlier gimbal rings....loosing these can ruin your day